Life with the Two Crazy Dogs

Alright…instead of uploading the selected pictures to WP, I thought of uploading them to Smugmug, but it’s so damn slow.  It’s snail pace which is driving me up the frigging wall.  It has been 20 minutes and it’s still transferring.  I know, there are a lot of pictures and they are approx 360MB, but the connection is so darn slow, it’s dragging.  As of now, only 13MB transferred.  Urghhhhhhh…..

It will be nice to have internet connection at home.  Looks like we will be here at IMAX forever.  

I was looking through some of  Maria’s old antique box several months ago.  We were just putzing around her house and something struck her old faded brain bucket.  She jumped up from the sofa and told me she need to show me the gold coins her dad had given her before he died when she was in Philippines 15 years ago.  Her dad always told his family that gold is the best investment ever.  He actually had those coins during the Japanese war.  He found some of them coins when he was hiding in an abandoned house.  He did not tell his children for he was afraid the older ones might steal from him and sell them for money.  Those coins are really valuable now.  I would not know where else to buy them.  They are coins from the Spanish occupation, with the image of the King on the back of them.  I told her she should keep them in a safe deposit box in the bank instead of keeping them in the house.

We have been in Ipoh since November 18.  Today is the 29th and we will be leaving Ipoh on Dec 1.  Time really flies when we are having fun.  It’s just not enough time.  I tried to spend as much time with my parents as possible. 

I spent a lot of my time with my buddy, Steph, too.  She is one loving, adorable person.  Very helpful, caring, and insightful!  She took DB and I around.  Took us out shopping, eating, just wherever we want.  Like I told my mom and she said the same thing, “it’s hard to find such a friend.”  She invited DB and I to Cameron Highlands last week.  I went and Db stayed behind since he was not feeling well.  I knew Steph since we were in Form One (13 years old) at our Alma mater, Main Convent, Ipoh and we have been friends since.  Thanks, Steph, for driving us around.  We really appreciate it very much.

I also met up with Michael, another buddy of mine I met when I started at Seagate, Ipoh back in 1995.  This dude is now happily married with a cutie pie.  I wish I had more time catching up with him.  See how it goes today and tomorrow.

Oh yeah, another great fun person I knew is Kiran.  I knew her since Thong Fook Plastic days back in 1993+.  Damn, that feels so long ago.  She was the one who brought me over to Seagate.  I will be meeting her tonight to catch up.  There is so much to talk about.

There is so much to catch up with my friends, but we are running out of days. 

OK, here are some pictures to feed your eyes. 

 DB’s medication a mixture of Western and Eastern.

 Kiran and I at Anderson Club on 11/28/2007

 Sunday - 11/25/2007  - Seafood lunch at Tanjung Tualang with Michael and his beautiful family.

 11/27/2007 - Lunch at Anderson Club

 11/27/2007 - Me and Dad having a cuppa Ipoh white coffee in Old Town. 

I was at my friend’s house, Encar, for a visit and notice how much she has upgraded the electronics in their living room and family room.  Her hubby bought a brand spanking new Sony HDTV and the best of all is a set of Bose home theater for their family room.  The living room has another flat screen.   As soon as I see the picture on the HDTV, man, I really want one, let alone with the surround sound system, it a to die for.  She said it is not that bad when it’s on sale.  Yeah, that is still quite steep for us. 

Since I got to my parents’ home, I have been looking around, seeing things that were not there before.  My mom put aside a box of ceramics for me -  if I want them.  Of course, I unwrapped them individually and picked those I want.  Dad gave me some pens - those that he had been collecting and put them neatly in his drawer.  I took some with me since I only have one in my bag and needed one for me in my backpack.  

I met up with Samm Tuesday afternoon.  She is as skinny as ever.  We took some pictures, got home and showed my parents and DB the pictures.  Dad still remembered her and when I showed him the picture of Samm and I, this is what he said: “Wah, so fat, ahh?”  I had to tell him that fat one is me.  “Samm is the one next to me lah!!”  Will see if I will put the picture up.  Too shy to put it up since I’m looking like a barrell now

Katie, the lady who replaces me in the fileroom, is on her second cruise of her life time.  She and her ex-boyfriend, Tom, are now into caribbean cruises every winter.  Yeah, it weird, they are not a couple anymore, but they are very good friends and travel companions.  Their last cruise was to the Eastern part of the Caribbean.  This cruise is to the Western side where they will pay a visit to Jamaica, Cancun, Costa Maya, Belize and Guatemala.   They pick a 14-night itinerary for all these places, which I think there are some additional places they are going, but I can’t recall where.  I am still waiting for my first cruise….

I am still debating if should get a tool storage for DB’s birthday cum Christmas present.  He wanted a storage for all his tools for the longest I know.  I wanted to get one last year but could not afford it.  This year, will be the same, but maybe if I have enough saved up, I can get one cheap one for him.  His tools are driving me up the wall and I think what is worse is how comes to me and ask if I have seen this or that tool. 

Casey, my friend at work brought her aunt to the seniors home couple of weeks ago.  This home has nursing service which they needed for her aunt.  It is really sad to see a lady in her 60s who used to be so independent but now so dependent on others.  She suffered from a stroke a few months ago and now she needs incontinence products for her daily life.  They are disposal and easy to purchase.  Casey told me she felt sad and uneasy buying these products for her aunt. 

We made it!!  The heat and DB getting sick.  He is doing better for now.  As usual we are now  at IMAX.  Those folks here recognized us and knows which PC we want - #53 and 54.

Since I bought the new camera, I have been clicking away - anything under the roof, sun, just whatever.  Yesterday, Dad came in and asked if I can take pictures of the fixed up hole where the car hit the side of the garden.  I said not a problem.  He was so happy about it coz I told him once we take the pictures, we can take it to Chan Sam Lock, the photo shop in Ipoh Garden and get it develop for him.

I took the pictures and then dad said we should get our bus tickets to KLIA for December 1.  We wanted to take the cab, but mom said it’s cheaper to take the bus.  Moreover, the taxi drivers who used to be DB’s drivers were no more in sight.  Dad took us to the bus company call YoYo in Bercham.  We wanted to pay by VISA, but dad paid for it.  We can’t they will charge additional 2.5% for that purchase for paying with VISA.   Tickets to KLIA for December 1 bought, now we need to shop more to fill up our luggages.  They are so empty and the things I got from my mom are breakable.  I still need to go to Jaya Jusco to buy a bolster - that will help with some of the packing.  OK, the bolster is not for me - it’s for a friend. 

Time to hit the other networks and make some extra cash now.  Though I say I’m enjoying myself, deep down I’m still very worry about our financial situation….sigh…..guess I should worry about it when we get home, huh?

Till then, TTFN.

Madeline and I were shopping for lighting’s for her house two months ago.  Her hubby and her are thinking of replacing all the current lighting since they were as old as 20 years old.  In other words, they were the ones when the house was built.  We went to Macy’s and we decided we should check out several lighting products from Farreys.com.  Both Madeline and her hubby are online shoppers, that was the reason I mentioned it.

Since her daughter is in her teens, she is looking towards a more contemporary style lighting.  She and I were not into contemporary ones, but because the daughter is the star in her daddy’s books, she had to pick those for her.  We looked at George Kovacs lampsfor her bedroom.  When Madeline asked her daughter which ones she like, she said she prefers the Boring collection.  Guess, the mom had to comply to her daughter’s wishes!  The Boring collection is actually not bad at all.  The name of the series sounded funny, but the accent lights and wall mounted sconce lighting are extremely well handcrafted.

Now for her the dining room, we looked at Murray Feiss lighting.  I told Madeline I especially like the Alhambra Crystal Collection, the 8 Light The Alhambra Crystal Uplight Chandelier.  For the entry way and living room lighting, she picked the Aurora Sunset Collection, and some  Hinkely light fixtures for their bedroom and some for the rooms in the house like her two offices, and bathrooms. 

 I am now waiting for their annual Christmas party to see these new lighting in their house.  It will be a perfect time to get them in. 

*This post is brought to you by Farreys.com*

We called SD couple of days ago.  She told us Ranger has been acting really weird.   She asked if there is a place to get pet supplies like calming tablets for the two boys.  Ranger especially starting digging and refuse to come inside.  She said he wants to stay by the back gate staring out to the driveway.  DB said he does that all the time when I am away.  He misses us, or DB said me especially.  Oh, that is so sad.  Cooper is whining a lot but stays indoors all the time.  Sd said at least he is not walking round and round in circles like Ranger.  Both SD and BF have no idea what Ranger wants.  We need a dog whisperer to the rescue!

Every other week is recycle day for our area.  Or trash company also picks up our recycle and yard waste.  What I like about them is they provide a big recycle can for our recycles.  All plastic jars, glass, newspaper, shiny paper, cardboard and whatever that can be recycled goes into that can, except for plastic bags.  DB uses a safety utility knife to cut up the boxes.  These recycle folks wants all cardboards to be cut up before we dump them in the can.  It is a pain but it also saves a lot of space.   I don’t know how many utility knives DB have, but they are all over the house.  His idea is he does not have to go hunt one down when he needs one.

My friend at work, Melissa, bought a piece of land couple of months ago and finally their house is coming up pretty nicely.  I model of their house looks really impressive. It is nice to have the extra dough, isn’t it?  She is already planning on some fabulous parties once their house is ready and all settled.  They always have great parties, parties that are always worth going.

Robert, her hubby, spoke to DB and are talking about remodelling their current house so that it bid for a better price in the housing market.  DB told him to remodel their kitchen.  First of, their kitchen sink which is a porcelain sink needs to go.  DB told Robert to look at stainless steel kitchen sinks.  I like these stainless steel ones, too.  Although they do not look as impressive as the porcelain ones, they are much easier to maintain.  They do not stain like the latter. 

At DesignerPlumbingOutlet.com, Robert found some very nice stainless steel ones  with chrome-nickel content and satin finish and with a 25-year warranty.  The next thing I told Melissa about is to change the to kitchen faucets to Moen faucets particularly the Medora series.  They are stainless steel and at DesignerPlumbingOutlet.com, there is free shipping for faucet purchases.  Moreover, if costumers have questions on any plumbing problems, they can contact the plumbing experts at DesignerPlumbingOutlet.com for answers.